straw poll

noun

1. an unofficial poll or vote taken to determine the opinion of a group or the public on some issue

straw poll

1. Originally, a small, informal opinion survey. Today, a straw poll is generally a large-scale, scientifically determined public opinion survey based on a random sample of the population. Straw polls are commonly used to test public opinion of candidates running for office.

Example Sentences

Most of it is taken up by a graphic inviting the visitor to participate in the 2016 online presidential straw poll.

From The Daily Beast

Many of them want Ted Cruz, who won the Values Voter straw poll.

From The Daily Beast

Firebrand conservative Senator Ted Cruz won a straw poll of grassroots activists at the Republican Leadership Conference.

From The Daily Beast

After a public forum and a straw poll, it settled on J.D. Winteregg, a 32-year-old teacher from Troy, Ohio.

From The Daily Beast

Well, Senator Rand Paul last weekend won the straw poll at CPAC, so I guess that means he is now the 2016 front-runner.

From The Daily Beast